Machine for laying concrete pavement



Oct. 18, 1955 T. M. BEATTY MACHINE FOR LAYING CONCRETE PAVEMENT INVENTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WHOM/1s M 35/7 77') BY \E. 35 i ATToiQ L Ll Filed Oct. 17, 1951 Oct. 18, 1955 T. M. BEATTY 2,720,822

MACHINE FOR LAYING CONCRETE PAVEMENT Filed OGt. l7 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR N THoMAS/Z BEATTY ATTORNE Oct. 18, 1955 T. M. BEATTY MACHINE FOR LAYING CONCRETE PAVEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 17, 1951 United States Patent MACHINE FOR LAYING CONCRETE PAVEMENT Thomas M. Beatty, Quincy, Ill. Application October 17, 1951, Serial No. 251,803 2 Claims. (Cl. 9446) This invention relates to a machine and method for laying concrete paving and is particularly designed for use in paving highways Where the roadbed has been prepared and side forms defining the width of the highway have been set in position.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a unitary self-propelled machine utilizing the side forms as tracks and adapted to continuously lay, tamp and level concrete paving on the roadbed during movement therealon Afiother object of the invention is to provide a machine that by self-generated pneumatic power wil be propelled to lay a strip of concrete paving and by the same power will automatically tamp the concrete during the laying operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selfpropelled machine for the purpose set forth wherein a plurality of transversely alined inclined pneumatically operated tampers are operable for the machine to tamp the concrete as it is laid during movement of the machine.

Still another object of the invention is to combine in a single machine the cooperative functions of an air compressor, air motor and pneumatic tampers together with means for feeding and leveling the fresh mixed concrete.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new method or process of pneumatically laying and tamping fresh mixed concrete in strip form along a prepared roadbed to facilitate the laying of concrete paving on highways.

These and other objects of the present invention will appear as the following description thereof proceeds, and in order to more clearly understand the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the machine mounted on the side forms of a prepared roadbed.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine, partly in section.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of pneumatic tampers.

Various machines have heretofore been employed for laying concrete highways with varying degrees of success. The present machine is believed to successfully overcome the defects in the prior developments along this line. The method of using self-generated pneumatic power for laying concrete paving greatly facilitates this operation in road building and the machine itself embodies a unitary arrangement and combination of the various mechanisms for accomplishing the necessary functions compactly assembled to accomplish the final result in an economical and practical manner.

The machine is adapted to travel on tracks formed by the parallel side forms F which define the width of the prepared roadbed upon which the fresh mixed concrete is to be laid. The machine itself comprised a base frame the head of one of the 2,720,822 Patented Oct. 18, 1955 formed preferably of side channel beams 1 and cross channel beams 2, all usually in the same plane. A cross beam is positioned at either end of the side beams and a pair of strengthening cross beams as spaced therebetween. The frame is not quite as wide as the distance between the side forms F.

On axles 3 mounted in bearings 4 on the side beams 1, are main supporting wheels 5 for the machine. Spaced forwardly and rearwardly of the main wheels 5, are smaller supporting wheels 6 and driving wheels 7, mounted on axles 8, trunnioned in the side beams 1. The wheels are of the usual flanged type, being alined on each side of the frame and adapted to travel on tracks formed by the forms F.

Intermediate the axles 3 of the main wheels 5, and formed by cross channel beams 9 positioned on the frame side beams 1, is a subframe upon which is mounted a conventional air compressor assembly C with the usual engine motor M. At the rear of the machine and formed by cross channel beams 10 is another subframe upon which is mounted a pair of air motors A in communication through a pipe 11 which is in turn connected with an outlet 12 from the compressor C controlled by a valve 13. Each air motor is drivingly connected by a chain and sprocket connection 14 with the axle for driving Wheels 7 to propel the machine along the tracks when the valve 13 is open.

Mounted on the main frame of the machine is a hopper H extending transversely the width of the frame. The rear Wall of the hopper tapers to a bottom discharge throat D and the rear wall of said throat forms a swing gate 15, hinged at 16 and adjustable as shown at 17 to vary the size of the discharge opening for the hopper.

The lower edge of the gate 15, is flanged rearwardly at 18 to spread the material as discharged from the hopper H when the machine is moved forwardly. A finger agitator 19 is positioned in the hopper and may if desired be ro- I tated by means not show The front wall and side walls of the discharge throat D may be secured to the respective front cross beams and side beams of the main frame and above the level of the forms the throat terminates slightly F and below the main frame of the machine.

The tamping feature of this machine comprises a batarranged in horizontal aline machine frame and adapted to be adjustably inclined rearwardly and downwardly tery of pneumatic tampers T ment across the front of the from the horizontal for tamping head engagement with the fresh mixed concrete as it is discharged from the hop per. To support the tampers in position there is' secured a to the front cross bar of the main frame an angle bracket 20 with side wings 21 having arcuately positioned apertures 22 along the curved upper edges of said wings. The upright portion of said angle bracket is secured by fasteners 23 to the front cross bar of the machine. A transverse connecting plate 24 is rigidly secured to the body of each individual tamper T to hold them in horizontal spaced alinement. An extending rear edge portion 25 of the plate 24 is hingedly connected at 26 to the front edge of the horizontal portion of angle bracket 20. The ends of the plate the inner faces of the Wings 21 and each end 26' is provided with an aperture 27 adapted for alinement with any of the wing apertures 22 when the plate 24 is swung on th hinge 26. A removable pin 28 is provided for interlocking the parts in any desired angular position of the plate 24 and tampers T.

Air is fed to the tampers T by means of an outlet conduit or pipe 29 at the front end of the air compressor C, valved at 30. A conduit or pipe 31, extends down and then transversely of the machine as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and then forwardly as shown at 32. The terminal extends transversely across the front of the machine as 24 are curved upwardly at 26' parallel withv shown at 33 and is capped at 34. The pipe portion 33 is adjacent the upper ends of the tampers T a nd is connected therewith by journalled T couplings or unions 35 in spaced la ion. as l ans; hown infigureszl and Of ourse betp r oith pipe r: c9nduit3 ngaged y he. o l plings, 3.5 is, is communication. therewith, by meansr no hown... Aether tampers. 1. are. supported. on: the frame by,

; themtians shownnoiappreciable. weight is carried by the.

section 33 of the pipe or conduit and the purpose oi the couplings is. to, provide .-a. journalledi connecti n the air. feed to. eachtamper.

As the tamper bodies are spaced across the front, of

he machiuc here i pro i ed; angle heads; 36 f r. each;

amp t such: a; width that. each head is close y; n seo re pec to. adjacent h ads 5 1 1 is no appr ciable: break. iii h winging; ac ions onthe. concrete. at thefr m. ofthe machine. Each head 36 is angular: to. provide a smp ng gortion 31 amlzfilh pper fl nge 38.. The rear face. of the portion}?! is grooved at 39 and has a central rearwardlx ext nd ng, tu 4 for engagement; in the. body of he tamper in; e=us a1 m nne E01: the. purposev of leveling thesurtace of the concret betwc u hefonns-F there is. carriedbyhemachiue fram l ueli uz p ate R, ith rfla or. crow edthat is a just-.-

bbfimount d. on the m hine; he Pla ppr ximately the, full width of'themachine. Its: front edge is positioned slightly. to the Hanoi the: discharge throat 1} oi the. hopper. H. and it. extends rearwardly a suflicient distance: to: level ofi the. top. surface of the, concrete,

The plate P is supported on the intermediate, cross beams 2 and. side beams. 1. of the main frame; of; the machine. by hanger stirrups 41 engageable. on rods 42;, The sfirmps are vertically adjustable by cam levers 43, Four... of. these, assemblies; are. provided adjacent; each cor;- ner of; the plate-P and they are identical; The lower end. of. each stirrup is secured. to the plate; by Welding. or thelike and-the... portions adjacent the plate. are threaded to. receive lock nuts 44 to lock each, support; inthe. desired adjusted-position; j

In operation the mac ine is placed; on the tracks.- formed thev formsl and. the hopper H5. filled with a, batch of fresh mixed concrete. With the. air: compressor 0 operatingjn the.- usual manner upon opening thevalve. 13', compressed air will: enter-the motors A. and: through the; chain and p cket. onne ion; L41 will rotate the. drive wheels7 o prop he entiretrame a1ong-.' h ra ks. Th gate 15'is0gcned he. req ired. distance to. feedi the. con-. cre tethe hopper H tQ-the; prepared: roadbedbetween. the; forms F, When the. valve 3.0. is. open. airfrom. the compressor, is. fed-to-theatampersT through the means described. The battery of; tampons; andiheads- 36ihave been. previously set: at the desired; angle. with respect to thehorizontal. and are; inclined; downwardly and: rearwardly- S aS to engage,- a d-gtampthe. concrete as it is discharged from he: 10.9961? at a point; adjacentand: in front of the: throatD. actiouwill temp and. setthe fresh mixed co'ncreteas the'machineispropelledalongtheiorms; The i a e eli pl te. P-will level; the top surface or the laidconcrete bed; to the; configuration-and: height desired.

The motor driven: ir compressor: of; this machine. fur-- nishes he motive. power o: drive the and; also/the. power to. operate the battery (if-inclined tempers... After. theleveling pla e is. adjusted it is onlynecessary to. refill:

. the, hopper so. the l y g operation. Practically continu- The constituent elements of the machine are assembled.

in a compact relationship with due regard to the essential and cooperative functioning of each that is deemed a material improvement over prior apparatus for'this purpose.

Al ho gh the; impr d: machine and method. for la);- ing concrete paving has been illustrated and described herein to a detailed extent, it'will beund'erstood, of course, that the'invention is not to beregarded as limited correspondingly in scope, but includes all variations coming within the terms of the-appended claims.

I claim: .A

1. In a machine for laying concrete paving, a wheeled frame mounted for movement along parallel side forms er: a re ied an: x s. c ms n d fl adapted; toiiil ruish motive power to. propel. said frame, a, transversely extending hoppercarried by said frame to,

dist i ute. concrete on tho-reached as, the frame moves wardly w thre p ct. oithehorizontal a pla r gidly n:-.

nesting the. transversely.- alinedi emp rs. a r ke n. h front of the frame hingedly connected to said plate, selec tive, interlocking means, to: hold: heplate. in. various an ular positionswithrespect to the bracket to vary the angle. oi the. tempers, andimeans, to, connectthe air compressor to. the. tampers. in; adjusted. position.

2. In a machine for laying concrete paving, a wheeled, frame mounted for movement; along parallel side forms and, (were roadbed, an air compressor on. said frame adapted-l9- furnishi motive. power; to. propel; said frame; ittan s ext di h mer earned? by Said frame odistribute concrete on, the roadbefd; as the. frame moves thereover, a plurality of spaced pneumatic tampers. fol: tamping; thedistributed concrete-transve sely alined acrQS thofr nt fthe fiameand ineliue lrea u rd y and down.-

7 wardlywith respectto. the-horizontal, a plate. rigidly connecting. he ransversely. ah'ned: tempers, a r ke n he front oi the fram h ngfi lyi onnected, to: said. p e, seleci e ut rlo kinsin ausitoi oki he p a e -n v nous.- n u ar po itions; wi h. resp ct: hebra ke to v y: he ngle. o

he empers, .meaus toconnect he air. compressor to he. tampers in any adjusted position, and angled headsousaid tampers eachla r zsd l s y spacedrelat ons rz th he, ends: of a jacent heads; oi the. ransvcrs v paced 

